Final Fantasy VI Advance (Game Boy Advance)

GameSpot editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 4.0 stars Excellent
  Detailed editors' rating
  Overall score: 8.9 (4.0 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Greg Mueller
• Reviewed on: 02/13/2007
• Updated on: 02/14/2007
• Released on: 02/05/2007
• Originally published on GameSpot: Final Fantasy VI Advance (Game Boy Advance) Review

Nintendo and Square Enix have saved the best for last. After bringing enhanced ports of four of the first five Final Fantasy games to the Game Boy Advance, it's time for the last of the 2D Final Fantasy games to make the transition. Final Fantasy VI was first released in the US in 1994 as Final Fantasy III, but regardless of what you want to call it, this game is an unequivocal masterpiece and is arguably the pinnacle of the series. Everything about this game, from the beautiful soundtrack to the diabolical villain, makes Final Fantasy VI an unforgettable experience. It was an amazing achievement when it was originally released, and it's just as impressive today, almost 15 years later.

The story in Final Fantasy VI isn't especially original, but it's delivered so well that you'll want to relish each and every plot twist, character introduction, conflict, and line of dialogue. It takes place in a world that was nearly destroyed 1,000 years ago during a legendary war involving magic. In the aftermath of the war, the power of magic was lost. As a result, people started to develop technology to replace magic as the primary facilitator of "the good life." The technology certainly isn't rudimentary, but it's not quite what you would call advanced. The world has a very dingy, industrial feel, with locomotives, zeppelin-like air ships, and lumbering mechs. As is the standard in role-playing games, there is a powerful empire amassing strength and expanding its reach in an attempt to rule the world. Of course, an overbearing empire needs more than technology to assert its dominance over the masses, so Emperor Gestahl decides to revive magic and use it as a source of ultimate power. You play as a ragtag group of adventurers who team up with a rebel faction known as The Returners. You set out to put an end to the empire before Gestahl and his forces destroy the world.

The main arc of the story is interesting, but what makes this game so enthralling is all of the ancillary details, character backgrounds, and memorable scenes. This is the largest, most diverse cast of playable characters in any of the numbered Final Fantasy games. Each of the dozen-plus playable characters has a unique special ability, which means you'll have a very different experience depending on how you build your party of up to four adventurers. Sabin, the monk in training, has special blitz attacks that you perform by inputting specific button combinations. Gau is a feral child who was raised among wild animals, so he can learn and use the special techniques used by enemies you encounter. Edgar is a technology buff and can use powerful tools such as chainsaws and drills to inflict major damage on enemies. There's a lot of variety to the special abilities of each character, so no two parties are ever alike. Beyond the battle screen, each character also has a distinct personality and backstory, which goes a very long way in making the game feel much more personal and compelling than it otherwise would be. Although this game is rated E10+, it's not at all a lighthearted fantasy. There's no blood or cursing, but there's plenty of death, grief, and destruction to make for a very dramatic and mature story.

There are a number of memorable and endearing characters in Final Fantasy VI Advance, but the unrivaled star of the show is the villain, Kefka. He's one of Emperor Gestahls top generals and his ambition is matched only by his madness. He's a sort of insane clown with a god complex, reminiscent of Jack Nicholson's portrayal of The Joker in Batman. Kefka is a complete lunatic, but he's the kind of villain that you will love to hate. Also, his maniacal laugh is one of the greatest sound effects in any video game.

One of the most apparent changes made in bringing Final Fantasy VI to the Game Boy Advance can be found in the dialogue and other text. Much of the original text has been updated, so if you've played this game on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System or the PlayStation, you'll notice many familiar lines have been changed. The dialogue changes are all perfectly reasonable, and much of what is said actually makes more sense now that it's been updated. However, purists and those who remember the original game fondly might find the changes to be a bit off-putting at first. Additionally, some of the spell, item, and skill names have been changed, but again the changes are mostly for the better.

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